Best Directing Team

‘Game of Thrones’: Tyrion’s best (and dumbest) moves in ‘The Laws of Gods and Men’ episode

This week’s episode of“Game of Thrones” saw all eyes turn to Tyrion Lannister, who was on trial for murdering king Joffery. While the show is still sitting in fourth place with odds of 8/1 to win Best Drama Series at this year’s Emmys, this episode boosted the Emmy odds of Peter Dinklage, who won Best Supporting Drama Actor back in 2011 for the first season and now sits in second place behind two-time champ Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad”).

Tyrion was so prominent in this episode that he claims the triple crown of best, dumbest and Emmy moves of the week.

1. Tyrion Lannister doubles down on ‘Trial by Combat’
The trial has been an unmitigated disaster for Tyrion: incriminating evidence, a crooked judge, betrayal by an ex-girlfriend and his inability to control his emotions. Best case scenario: he receives a guilty verdict and is banished to the cold wall. In season one, Tyrion used ‘trial by combat’ to escape an all-but-certain death sentence in the vale; so, why can’t it work again?

2. Davos Seaworth dealing with the bankers
The iron bank wields a great deal of power in the game since the Lannisters are up to their necks in debt to them. Choosing to appeal to these financiers in order the take the throne was a smart move in itself. In the meeting, Stannis gives up easily when told his claim was deemed to be a bad investment for them. But his faithful right hand man Davos persisted, arguing that Stannis was more likely to repay their debts’ than the family with a teenager on the throne.

3. Tywin Lannister tries the throne on for size
Tywin demonstrated his true power as he oversaw the trial from the iron throne. When Jaime offers to continue the lineage if he spares Tyrion’s life, Tywin jumps at the offer so quickly it seems like this was his plan all along to safeguard his family’s legacy. This demonstrates how masterful he is at manipulating situations to his benefit.

Dumbest Move: Tyrion loses it on the stand
Viewers love Tyrion for his wit, charm and intelligence, all assets when you are on trial for murder. However, on the stand he comes across as snarky, mopey and angry. Shame he didn’t have David E. Kelley writing for him. While he was unlikely to have changed the outcome, he could have made it more difficult for Tywin to paint him as a villain who killed “the most noble child the gods ever put on this good earth.”

Emmy Moves
This one was all about Dinklage and would make a great submission for him with that final impactful scene. The short length of the scene could be his biggest hurdle, but that didn’t stop Bobby Cannavale triumphing last year for “Boardwalk Empire.”

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